30th October 2023 21:35:56 Hours
The Sri Lanka light Infantry Regiment, the oldest regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, which has a deep history, celebrated its proud 142nd anniversary on 23rd October 2023 in a very festive manner, and concurrently on 28.10.2023, the “ABIMANMUDUNATHA'' war hero's monument. A ceremony was held to commemorate the war heroes.
On April 01, 1881, the first infantry force in Sri Lanka was started under the name of Ceylon Volunteers, after receiving approval for the raising of a volunteer infantry force in Sri Lanka from page 528 of the Government Gazette No. 4396 dated April 01, 1881. According to the special order of the Army on June 30, 1989, the regimental flag was hoisted on October 23, 1989 at Panagoda Army Cantonment, where the 1st Battalion Sri Lanka Infantry was stationed, and the Sri Lanka Infantry Regimental Center was established. Regimental Day Anniversaries also mark the anniversary of the formation of the Infantry. The Sri Lanka Infantry has now completed 142 years since its inception and has been carrying out a unique mission to secure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the motherland with the motto "Serving".
Marking the inauguration of the 142nd Regimental Day celebrations, the Commander of the security Force Headquarters, Jaffna and the Colonel of the Regiment Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Major General SRK Hettiarachchi RWP RSP VSV ndu psc, senior officer was given a camp guard at the main entrance of the Regimental Centre. A proud award ceremony at the Regimental Drill Ground was served. Then the Colonel of the Regiment appeared for a group photo with all the officers and senior non-commissioned officers present, and addressed all the ranks present for the ceremony and delivered a timely and meaningful speech. There, trophies and certificates were also awarded to the drill teams who won the first and second positions in the control test held in 2023 and who performed well in the independent battalions and inter-battalions drill competition.
1In conjunction with the 142nd anniversary day, The Colonel of the Regiment, who attended the All Rank Lunch, engaged in a friendly interaction with all the ranks present. A large number of senior officers, officers and other ranks participated in the anniversary celebration, and the anniversary celebrations were organized under the direction of the Colonel of the Regiment Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Major General SRK Hettiarachchi RWP RSP VSV ndu psc, and all events were directly supervised by Center Commandant of Sri Lanka Light Infantry.
Major General SRK Hettiarachchi, RWP RSP VSV USP ndu psc, Commander of Security Force Headquarters Jaffna and Colonel of the Regiment Sri Lanka Light Infantry participated as the Chief Guest of the "ABIMANMUDUNATHA" War Heroes Celebration. Former Chief of Staff and Colonel of the Regiment Major General TJ Kodithuvukku (Retired) RWP RSP ndc , former Colonels of the Regiment, Senior Officers of the Infantry Association, serving Senior Officers, were the special guests. The celebration was held with the participation of a large number of close relatives of the deceased war heroes.
